Rules
Three on-stage contestants, one a returning champion, were each given one point at the outset of the game, indicated by diamonds on the front of their podiums. Also in front of the contestants' podiums was an electronic wheel with numbers 0-9, blank spaces and a car symbol. The symbols on the wheel were spaced so that each spin had two contestants with numbers or the car symbol and a third with a blank space. Players spun the wheel by pulling a lever. After each spin, the player whose space was blank was shown the first halves of two riddle-type phrases, each with an acronym to be filled in. An example of these would be as follows:
"When T.O. speaks..."
"As predicted, the I.O.M...."
After selecting one of the two phrases, the host read the rest of the selected phrase (example: after selecting the first phrase above, the host read "...all of the House listens." Answer: Tip O'Neill). The first player to buzz-in and fill in the acronym correctly scored one point, and incorrect guesses subtracted one point. If neither opponent guessed correctly, the player who selected the riddle won $50. The first to score 6 points won the game & $500.
If the car symbol appeared under a contestant's pointer, that contestant attempted to guess which number was hidden under a question mark on the car's license plate. The first three weeks of the series had a separate plate used for each attempt. Later, previously incorrect numbers were automatically eliminated from each subsequent attempt. Guessing correctly won the player the car regardless of the game's outcome.
Read more about this topic: Your Number's Up
Famous quotes containing the word rules:
“Syntax and vocabulary are overwhelming constraints—the rules that run us. Language is using us to talk—we think we’re using the language, but language is doing the thinking, we’re its slavish agents.”
—Harry Mathews (b. 1930)
“... a large portion of success is derived from flexibility. It is all very well to have principles, rules of behavior concerning right and wrong. But it is quite as essential to know when to forget as when to use them.”
—Alice Foote MacDougall (1867–1945)
“Here was a place where nothing was crystallized. There were no traditions, no customs, no college songs .... There were no rules and regulations. All would have to be thought of, planned, built up, created—what a magnificent opportunity!”
—Mabel Smith Douglass (1877–1933)